Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-25
He Warns the Government Of the Daus
gers Of ClOture and Coercion.

OOeEC1O0S
In the debate on the motion for urgency for tina
coercion bill last night, Mr.. Gladstone referred To
the unprecedented position.of the house. which had
already sat two months, during which, he said IT'S
independent Initiative had been suppresSpd
Even now the conservatives exulted over the
prospect OF passing motion forcing the house tn
an absolute surrender OF its whole time until bin
OF an extremely severe character had been carried
The house was threatened with a frequent appli.
cation OF closure IL debates Were protracted No
greater calamity could befall the house than this
sort OF pressure. IL would sap the authority OF
the chair and bring the procedure rules into dis
repute. He had seen more parliamentary life than
any other man In the house, but he never knew OF
so grave state or affairs IL was due 70 an ex-
IRENE abuse OF power by the majority. which, II
OF the house would not be borne pa
very different rom that ,when the he" c Sas
cion bill OF 1881 was passed. There were no
papers before the house, nor was there any indi-
cation or the nature OF the proposed government
measure Heretofore, in asking special legislation
for dealing with crime In Ireland, ministers had
crime threatened social order was that the case
now? No. They had been tod that the number OF
agraIan onenses prior 70 the passage OF Forsters
Crime then, however, was OF different character
from which the government now sought TO cheek.
The present crime consisted In combining 10 Oh.
tain a reduction OF rent. Even the evi-
dence which the government put before
the house showed that this crime was re-
stricted to demands for just Attachments OF
rent by majority or members from Ireland Now,
there was protest against coercion from an over
whelming majority OF the Irish members. Had the
government any just claim for demanding coer-
ci0n, or urgency for a new repressiye measure?
After appointing commission to examine on the
spot the rent question and the evils arising from
the land laws, the government now put aside the
recommendations OF the commission and asked
Parliament for Increased power TO make the laws
Still more offensive TO the general sense OF the
people. Gen. Buffers evidence proved that tho
tenants not paying rent were anxious 10 pay that
there was no general movement against the pay
ment OF rent, but only combined effort 10 obtain
fair rents. The Irish people were apt 10 follow the
example constantly set by Others, and see what
they could make out OF exclusive dealing.
lCheers.l The government said that contracts
should not be broken yet MI. Bafour while Preach
ing the doctrine OF the sanctity or contracts,
was going 70 introduce a bill breaking leasehold
contracts adjusted under the Land act OF 1881 JusS
as the judicial rents were. IL was not TO yindicato
the Sanctity OF contracts, nor to repreSs q wide.
spread outbreak OF crime, that the government
now demanded coercion for Ireland. or whatever
nature the government measure should turn OUT
TO be- IL was the duty OF the liberals now whether
In minority or In majority, 70 refuse urgency. He
trusted that the people OF England would see the
liberals united In opposing this nl-omened meas
ure TO the last stage, and that the liberal members
would ring out the voices OF justice and reason
against q government which, after eighty-stx
name OF statute OF parliament TO strike q fresh
blow at the Life and happiness OF Ireland, and sc
pire.
MT. Chamberlain spoke In favor OF the mouoa
Tor urgency.